Couples are being advised to switch their smartphones off to improve their sex lives.

Therapists believe there is a direct link between the quality of a physical relationship and the amount of time one or more partners are spending on their mobiles.

Counsellors have revealed they are increasingly directing people who are stuck in sexless marriages not to linger in the office at the end of a working day – and to turn off their tablets and phones once they return home.

Tony Moore, who runs Talking Point Counselling in Portlaoise, Co Laois, said: “The biggest trend I’ve noticed since the start of this year is people seem to be working harder and longer.